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But experts fear that the currency has become a vast speculative bubble detached from reality.

Watchdogs across the world have warned there could be a sudden massive crash if the market turns. The market is unregulated in Britain, and the Financial Conduct Authority does not even hold figures on how many are trading.

Economist Ludovic Subran of credit insurer Euler Hermes said: ‘There’s a lot of money to be made. And a lot of money to be lost. We’re seeing more and more people wanting to venture there, but they’re not fully aware of the risk.’

As interest in bitcoin has grown, so has evidence that dubious self-proclaimed trading gurus are using it to flog expensive ‘seminars’.

Senior business figures have said they are worried about the risks, including JP Morgan boss Jamie Dimon who described it as a ‘fraud’. He warned it will ‘eventually blow up’ and added he would fire any employee trading it for being ‘stupid’.